Busting Brackets

This year’s NBA Draft featured a three-way battle for No. 1 between Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, and Jabari Smith. Smith was the favorite for months leading up to the draft before a wild last-second swing with Orlando taking Banchero, Oklahoma City taking Holmgren, and Smith falling to Houston at No. 3. Barring something disastrous happening, there won’t be much of a battle for No. 1 in 2023. Victor Wembanyama is the heavy frontrunner, but the rest of the draft is actually quite even and difficult to predict, giving a number of players more than enough room to slide up and down mock drafts and big boards over the next 12 months.